Underdogs, unrolled
New hot dog shop at 17th and Sansom celebrates local bread and wurst.
Underdogs, unrolled
Restaurant veteran Robert Amar is behind the new Underdogs, a subterranean hot dog shop, which opened today (2/28) in the lower-level storefront at 132 S. 17th St. It previously was Argan Moroccan Cuisine.
Underdogs' base dog is a boiled Dietz & Watson all-beef "5-to-1" - the Tacony meat packer's signature five-to-a-pound frank - which he's selling for $3.25 on a sturdy roll from South Philly baker Cacia's. From there go the toppings - the result, Amar says, of two years of research and development.
See the menu here. A couple samples: The "My Thai" includes peanut sauce and papaya slaw. There's a "Georgia dog" with pepper hash and a housemade mustard sauce. The Coney Classic has mustard and Kissling's sauerkraut that's been recooked - doctored - to include bacon, onion and carrot.
Amar, a veteran of Buddakan, Tangerine, Fleming's in Radnor, and most recently Fare in Fairmount, is sourcing other sausages locally, including Czerw's kielbasa, Fiorella Bros. hot sausage, and Martin's mild pork sausage.
He's also offering hand-cut fries with an assortment of dipping sauces. A combo - $3 over the dog price - includes a bag of fries and a soft drink.
Underdogs will open at 11 a.m. daily and will keep late-late hours (perhaps till 4 a.m.) on weekends. Late-night fast-food options in the neighborhood are pretty much limited to McDonald's and 500 Degrees.
Update: Menu link fixed.
Looks cool, but I miss Argan.— le sigh- the menu link doesn't work— vodge
- There's only one Abe's.— TheDude
- underground dogs is yum yum in my tum tum, I will miss Argan though.— Phila26
- $7 hotdogs... really!— rockwell
- there ARE $7+ "combos", but there are no "$7 hotdogs"
nothing over $5.25, in fact.
and a dozen choices at $4 or less.
reading - it's fundamental.— ekw555 - It has to be better than Fare anyway..........— Earl J
- @vodge--THAT IS the menu page....scroll down...— bluehaha
- Dietz & Watson sucks! Too mushy. Give me a Nathan's or Hebrew National.— MrBigDizzle
- Much better prices than hot diggity. Hopefully the quality holds up.— lookyhere
- Levis hot dogs anyone? Used to be at 5th & South back in the day. Wash those puppies down with a nice Cherry Coke and you can die after that not regretting your life— RichieLemon
- Well I'm glad someone remembers Levi's, regardless if they forgot where it was. There were 2 Levis - 6th and Pine SE Corner and 6th and Lombard across from the Recreation Center. To me the 6th & Pine was the absolute best, using Foremost Hot-dogs. The Champagne Cherry was fabulous from a treasured Fountain Dispenser, Fish Cakes, Knishes and the relishes of Kosher pickles, etc. When I was a boy I visited it every Sunday after church. I miss it still — aden
- We all have are favorites Hebrew Nats rule in my opion.
Nathans are to garlicky....I like my dog on a nice potato bun or plain bun with relish lite mustard and kraut....plenty of kraut and baked beans on the side......you can always get a decent dog on any corner downtown, at least 2 dogs for what one of these gourmet ones costs. To eat his own.— merchandiser
